How to choose the right employee monitoring software: A buyer's guide

A comprehensive guide to choosing the right solution for your team’s needs.

Key Features to Look For

Identify the must-have features for effective monitoring.

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Real-Time Tracking

Monitor employee activities and time usage in real-time. Get instant updates to manage work and productivity effectively.

Performance Analytics

Get detailed insights into individual and team performance. Use the reports to make informed decisions and improvements.

Easy to Use

Choose software that is intuitive and easy to navigate. Make sure your team can start quickly with little training.

Works With Your Tools

Check that the software works with the tools you already use. Make sure it keeps your operations running smoothly.

How to Evaluate Your Choices

Compare different solutions to find the best fit for your needs.

Grows With Your Team

Choose software that can grow with your business as your team expands. Flexibility is essential to accommodate future growth.

Evaluate Customer Support

Check the quality of the customer support available. Reliable support means less time when the software is down and faster fixes for problems.

Check Security Measures

Evaluate the security measures the software has in place. Protection of sensitive company data is crucial for a secure work environment.

Test with Demos

Take advantage of free trials to experience the software first-hand. This shows you how easy it is to use, how well it performs, and whether it suits your team’s work.

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Discover the Best Employee Monitoring Software

Explore our top picks that offer outstanding features and value.

Products to Compare

ActivTrak

Strengths:

Automatic time tracking, on every plan
Real-time visibility, on Work Activity Tracking
Productivity insights and trends, on Productivity Optimization
Offline meeting time, on Work Activity Tracking and up
Alarm notifications by email, MS Teams, Slack, and to other tools through webhooks, on Work Activity Tracking and Workforce Management

Limits:

You cannot log keystrokes, record video or monitor cameras
You cannot blur screenshots
Screenshots need a paid add-on
Automatic emails about exceptions, on Workforce Management and up
Paid support plan needed above 50 licenses

Cost:

$10.00/user/month (Billed Annually)

DeskTime

Strengths:

Automatic time tracking, on every plan
Project tracking, on every plan
Screenshots at random intervals, on Premium and Enterprise
Blurred screenshots for privacy
Stealth mode, for tracking without the employee's knowledge

Limits:

Shift scheduling, on Premium and up
Custom API on request, on Enterprise only
Employee training, on Enterprise only

Cost:

$9.17/user/month (Billed Annually)

Hubstaff

Strengths:

Screenshot blur and frequency set to company policy
Time tracked automatically or by timer
Idle time discarded automatically, on Team and Enterprise
Client invoices, on Starter and up
Time off and holidays, on Team and Enterprise

Limits:

Unusual activity detection, as an add-on
More screenshots, as an add-on
Silent app, as an add-on below Enterprise
Unlimited app and URL tracking, on Team and up
Higher public API limits, on Enterprise

Cost:

$7.50/user/month (Billed Annually)

Insightful

Strengths:

Screenshots blurred by default, no keystroke logging on any tier
Active and idle time, on Workforce Analytics, Combo and Enterprise
Clock in and out automatically, on every plan
Shifts checked against leave synced from your HR software
Stealth mode alongside visible mode

Limits:

Insider threat detection, as an add-on
Screen recording, as an add-on
Up to 120 screenshots an hour, as an add-on
Invoicing not yet offered on Workforce Analytics, Combo or Enterprise
Workflow Optimization is in beta

Cost:

$8.00/user/month (Billed Annually)

Teramind

Strengths:

Smart rules and automated alerts
Screen recording and live view, on every plan
Productivity analysis and reporting, on every plan
Sensitive content redacted, on DLP and Enterprise
Hidden or visible app, set per team

Limits:

Full activity records and investigation tools, on UAM and up
Unlimited rules based on activity, on UAM and up
Automatic blocking of data leaks, on DLP and Enterprise

Cost:

$14.00/user/month (Billed Annually)

Time Doctor

Strengths:

Screenshots that employees can see, with admins setting blur and frequency, on Basic and up
Offline work logged, such as meetings and calls
Custom email alerts, on Standard and up
Leave tracking, on Standard and up
Silent tracking, on every plan

Limits:

Web and app usage reporting, on Standard and up
Productivity ratings, on Standard and up
Video screen recording, as an add-on below Premium
Single sign-on, as an add-on below Premium

Cost:

$11.67/user/month (Billed Annually)

Veriato

Strengths:

Application and website tracking, on UAM
Screen recording, on UAM
Runs hidden in the background, on UAM
AI driven productivity scoring, on UAM
Open API, on UAM

Limits:

5-user minimum on an annual purchase
Insider risk management (IRM) priced on request, with a 20-user minimum

Cost:

$18.00/user/month (Billed Annually)

Workfolio

Strengths:

Unlimited tracking, on Pro
Unlimited teams, on Pro
Unlimited Storage, on Pro
Screenshots every 1 minute, on Pro
Free Forever

Limits:

Access to the last 14 days of data, on Basic
Up to 10 GB of file storage, on Basic
Once the 10 GB of free storage is used up, you can still track timesheets, on Basic
API: Coming Soon
Invoice: Coming Soon

Cost:

$3.99/user/month (Billed Annually)

Compare all leading products

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Why Workfolio Stands Out?

Workfolio is designed to simplify employee monitoring, providing real-time tracking and insightful performance dashboards. Trusted by businesses worldwide, Workfolio ensures that your team remains productive, no matter where they work.

Start now for Free Learn More About Workfolio

See How Others Have Benefited

Marry Welsom

Senior Analyst at Visionary Solutions

Workfolio has transformed our team’s performance. We've experienced a 25% boost in productivity and saved $15,000 annually by cutting down on wasted time. The software has made a huge difference in our operational efficiency!

Choosing the Right Software for Your Team

Select software that fits your business goals and team needs. Consider features, room to grow, and user feedback to ensure the best fit. Use our guide to make your decision with confidence.

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